Process and apparatus for heel manufacture



R. S. AYRES. PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR HEEL MANUFACTURE-APPLICATION-FILED OCT. 6. 1911. RENEWED MAY 2 1,350,852.

2, I920. Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEETI flveniar Riqkavddyres 'E W dit y.

R. S. AYRES. PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR HEEL MANUFACTURE. APPLICATIONFILED OCT. 6. 1917. RENEWED MAY 22. 1920.

1 350,852, Patented Aug- 24, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. O

UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE. i

RICHARD S. TYRES, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.-

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR HEEL MANUFACTURE.

Application filed October '6, .1917, Serial No. 195,047. Renewed May 1)roccss of, and apparatus for, manufactur-I lug boot and shoe heels ofpulp material.

In the art of making integral, non-laminated pulp heels, such, forexample, as

shown by my prior application 31865, filed June 3, 1915, I havediscovered that suchpulp heels can .be made by means of a centrifugalapparatus which will be capable of receiving the pulp material as amass,separating said mass automatically into substantially equal portions,each suitable for subsequent compression into a heel, said apparatuscontaining means for both preliminarily shaping and molding individualheel mass, and with means for automatically giving a substantially finalmolded 1 form to each heel mass, together with provision for handlingthe pulp and eliminating the water content therefrom.

The handling of a large compact mass of pulp material, such as isnecessary for subsequent molding and forming into a boot or shoe heel,presents many difficulties. In order to handle such a suitable preparedmass of pulp, it is necessary to take the same while in a plastic ormobile state during the process of manufacture, viz., while the pulpcontains a sufficiently large amount-of liquid to enable it to behandled. The elimination of this liquid from the mass of pulp presentsan extremely diflicult problem, and one which is vastly different fromthe making of pulp into thin sheets, where the straining of the liquidand drying of the sheet material is a well known and comparatively easyprocess.

In my prior application, Ser. No. 126,425, filed October 18,- 1916, Ihave explained and described one method of manufacture for making pulpWood heels, which method included the step of separating a predeterminedmass of pulp material by measuring and mechanical means of subsequenthandling of each heel mass by molding and Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Aug. .24, 1920.

22, 1920. Serial No. 383,546.

forming appliances, squeezingout the liquid content by compression.Anothermethod of making such heels is described and claimed in my priorapplication Ser. No.

153,881, filed March 10, 1917, wherein suitQ able binders are employedto solidify and harden, automatically, the individual heel pulp mass,either with or without compres sion by heavy moldingappliances, preferably utilizing only such molding pressure as' will shape the pulpmaterial. In my present application, however, I propose to handlethepulp mass and to eliminate the liquid therefrom in a distinctly novelmanner as applied to pulp heel manufacture, relying upon centrifugalforce to eliminate the liquid from each heel mass of pulp, as well asrelying upon this centrifugal action to separate a predetermined mass ofpulp suitable fora plurality of'heels, into the heel molds. When soseparated I maintain the centrifugal force to actually shape or mold theindividual 'heel mass, and utilize additional compression devices,acting by centrifugal force, to give the heel mass its final form, andcompression. It will be understood that, the present process and ap-'paratus contemplate'the use of a suitable pulp mass, such as explainedin my said prior application 126,425, without any selfhardening hinder,or a pulp mass as explained in my prior application Ser. No. 153,881.which includes a self-hardening and solidifying binder.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention,

F igure 1 is a view. partly in cross section of a centrifugal apparatussuitable for carrying out my improved process herein explained;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view. partly in cross section, of thecentrifugal molding apparatus;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail cross sectional view of one of the molders;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view partly in cross section of the compressingplungers; and

the lower portion of the drum 1 is a bearing 4 adapted to receive acentral shaft 5, ex-

tending upwardly, and with its lowermost end sustained on a thrusthearing at 6 on the base 3, a pulley 7 being keyedon the shaft 5adjacent thereto. To rotate the shaft 5 any means may be provided,preferably an individual motor 10 is provided, which may convenientlyrest on a bracket 11, 10 said motor having a drive pulley 12 from whicha belt 13 leads to the shaft. pulley 7 around guide pulleys at 14,mounted in arms 15 extending from .the standard 16, which is'carried bthe base 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. peration of the motor 10 thusrotates the shaft 5 at the desired rate of speed. Secured to the shaft 5within the drum 1 is a carrier 20, with its hub 21rigidly secured to theshaft 5. .This carrier has about its periphery the six molding pockets22, 22, extending radially therefrom. As a secure and economical meansof securing these pockets to the carrier 20, I prefer to form verticallyextend- 25 ing flanges '23, around the periphery of the carrier 20,having the same slotted to receive each'pocket 22, the latter beingformed with flanges 24 adapted to bear in and interlock withcorresponding recesses 25, formed in the flange 23, which are adjacentopenings 26' through said flange, of equal extent to the mouth 27 ofeach pocket 22.

This construction contemplates the interchangeability of diflerentmolders 22 for different shaped heels, each of said molds being ofsuitable size, fit in the recesses provided therefor 1n the carrier 20,but with the rearmost portion of the mold of any configuration which itis desired shall be given to the finally molded pulp heel. Asillustrated in the drawings, these molds ma conveniently comprise abeveled opening or flange portion, as shown at 30, a substantiallystraightsection as indlcated at 31, through which a plunger may beadapted to reciprocate, as will be explained, and a final heel shapingand molding portion 32, of appropriate size and contour to receive themolded heel in its finall compressed form, extending from theposrtron ofthe mold to the dotted line 33 as indicated in Fig. 1. -The extreme endor bottom of the mold I prefer to form as a movable plate 34, preferablyperforated, through 'WhlCll the moisture may be thrown durin theoperation of the apparatus, and wliic plate 34 may thereafter beemployed as an e ector, being moved lengthwise of the mold from its seat35 inwardly so as to throw out the completed heel, a rearwardly extendinarm 36 and pin 37 thereon being provide as will be explained. This plate34 has a plurality of small perforations 38 (see Fig. 5) sufiicientlysmall. to prevent the pulp be- 66 mg compressedtherein and sufficientlynuand with flanges to cated in dotted lines at 42, the motor 10 started,the shaft 5 rotated, and the mass of pulp material contained within thecarrier 20 will be automatically and equally distributed into each ofthe six molds 22, being thrown into the extreme heel or pocket of each;mold against the perforated plate 34, and the liquid quickly eliminatedtherefrom by centrifugal action, as will be readily understood. Thisalso securessuflicient compressing force to effect a substantial moldingof the pulp, still further compressing and solidifying the mass of pulpmaterial in each mold as the liquid-is eliminated therefrom. The processthus far described will both separate from the mass of pulp material asuitable amount for subsequent formation into an individual heel, willdrain out the liquid, will give a molding or shaping action to the heel,and will enable a satisfactory commercial molded pulp heel to be made,in an expeditiousand economical 100 manner.

In order to provide a complete molding action by means of plungersadapted to fit Within each mold, I provide means which may be loweredinto the carrier 20, then released While the shaft 5 and carrier 20 arebeing rotated at a high velocity, and a plunger will thus be thrown intoits adjacent mold, giving a final compression and a desired concavity orconfiguration to the top of the heel, as a completing molding action,further forcing out the moisture and solidifying the pulp fiber.

In carrying out this further step in a preferred form, I fit upon theupper portion of the shaft 5 by a sliding or splined key, or by havingthe shaft squared, a .hub 44, carrying an arbor or spider formed withradial arms 45 and a peripheral rim 46. The rim 46 is perforated at aplurality of points, 47, 47, each in alinement with a mold 22', andthrough each perforation is fitted a sleeve 48, having at its inner endacollar 49 and carrying a plunger 50 having on its outer end, outside ofthe rim 46, a heel engaging mold 51. Preferably the face of this mold 51is convexed to give the usual concavity to the top of a heel, asindicated,

in Fig. 4. The sleeve 48 has its outer end next the mold 51 partiallyclosed at 52, thus affording a bearing for the plunger 51 and a stop forthe rim or shoulder 53 on its i11- ner end. The sleeve 48 is adapted toslide through the opening 47 until the adjustable nut 49 strikes againstthe rim 45, then the plunger 51 may continue its'sliding action throughthe opening in the sleeve 48 until the shoulder strikes against 52.Preferably, however, the final compression of the heel mass within theend of the mold 22, will act to limit the movement of the mold 51, thepositive stop afforded by the shoulder 53, however, limiting anexcessive com pression of the pulp. To control the sliding action ofthese plungers, and to release them simultaneously when the hub 44 andspider containing the plungers is lowered down to the bottom of thecontainer 20 (see Fig. 1), I provide a plurality of cords 55, leadingfrom an eyelet .56 in the rearmost face of each plunger 51, through apulley 57 journaled on standards 58 securedv to the hub 44 and thenceupwardly through a guide 59 to a sliding collar 60 positioned on theupper part of the shaft 5, to which the cords 45 are secured. The hub 44being splined on the shaft 5 rotates with it, earrying the plungers atsame rotation as that of the member 20 and the molds 22. After the pulphas been centrifugally thrown into each mold, the hub 44 is then lowereduntil it strikes against the bottom of the carrier 20, a plunger beingalined with each mold in this position. The collar 60 is then released,as by loosening the set screw 61,.

and the sleeves 48, plungers and the molds 51 at once are thrownoutwardly tachable from the carrier, if desired, and thehecl moldquickly thrown out, but I prefer to provide means to eject the moldedheel with the mold 22 in position in the carrier. To this'end I providea recess 62 through the drum 1 in alinement with the arm 36,

' extending outwardly from each mold. The

carrier 20 may be rotated by hand, until a mold 22 is in alinement withthe opening 62, whereupon the ejector 64, preferably having a forked end65 to cooperate with the correspondingly angled end of the arm 36, isfitted thereto, a movable latch 66 pivoted at 67 to said ejector andhaving a forked hooked end 68 to catch on the pin 37, is applied. themold 34 shoved inwardly until the heel is thrown into the carrier 20,

and then the ejector 64 withdrawn, leavingthe plate 34 in the pocket ofthe mold as other process of which I am aware.

before. I prefer to form the hook 68 substantially as illustrated at 69,Fig. 5, so that the hook will be automatically raised and released whenthe plate 34 strikes against the base 35 of its mold, although as theentire latch 66 is then outside of the mold, it can be lifted by handand released if desired. The next mold 22 is then swung into positionand its heel ejected therefrom in like manner.

My present process and apparatus thus effect an automatic distributionand separation of the plastic and mobile pulp mass while it' has asufficient liquid content to insure its rapid flow into the molds,providing means for the elimination of the liquid, the compacting of thepulp, and the final solidi fying and substantial drying alidniol li1igof the pulp, all as a substantially consecutive and almost asimultaneous operation. This insures accuracy, speed in manufacture,economy in cost and uniformity of product. I believe the handling of apulp mass sufficiently large and while in its pulpy or plastic state,for subsequent compression into heel molds, is a distinct novelty, and Itherefore wish to claim the same broadly.

I also believe that the utilization of means which will simultaneouslyeliminate the liquid content, mold the pulp into both preliminary andfinal heel form, is also distinctly new, and is therefore claimedherein. I have discovered that the centrifugal action on a mass offibrous pulp material has a peculiarly beneficial action inthe.manufacture of a heel, because the fiber of the pulp is laid in asubstantially stratified mass, thus greatly improving the wearability,finish receiving qualities and breasting and trimming of a heel. Withthe pulp fiber thus Stratified, the heel breast operation, for example,on a fiber heel made by this process, cuts the heel breast in a cleansmooth manner, so as to practically eliminate the necessity ofsubsequent scouring, bufiing or the like. Also the capacity of such amolded heel for receiving inking, stains, blacking, wax finishing or thelike, is greatly improved over a pulp article molded by $11137 e actionof the plunger giving the final compressing and molding pressure on thepulp, is also extremely beneficial in aiding to squeeze out or eliminatethe water in the pulp, forcing the same therefrom and greatly aiding thecentrifugal drying action. I find it advantageous in some cases to pourthe entire predetermined mass, at once, into the central receptacle, butI contemplate the gradual pouring or feeding the pulp mass into saidcentral receptacle While the apparatus is rotating, thus stlll furtheraiding inthe Stratification of the "fibers of the pulp and eitheroperation is and in carrying out the present process. I

also contemplate the simultaneous ejectionof all the moldedheels, by anysuitable means, throwing or drawing out the same, but have not atpresent developed this mechanism, which may be the subject of a laterapplication, wherein I may utilize linings which are interchangeableinside the molds.

My invention is further described and defined in the form of claims asfollows:

1. The improved process in the art of manufacturing boot and shoe heelsfrom pulp material, which consists in applying a predetermined mass ofpulp in a rotating receptacle, automatically. separating said mass ofpulp into a plurality of equal parts,

simultaneously discharging each part into a plurality of heel moldsarranged around the receptacle, and expressing the moisture therefrom,by centrifugal force, and finally,

compressing each portion in itsrespective mold.

2. Apparatus of the kind described,adapt ed to separate and mold pulparticles from and a plunger for each mold, operable at a predeterminedtime on the pulp material in each mold.

In testimony whereof, have signed my name to this specification, 1n thepresence of Witnesses:

' JAMES R. Hononn, HAROLD J CLARK.

